Former President George H.W. Bush's career in photos(27 images)

George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st president of the United States, died November 30, 2018, his family announced. He was 94. His death came six months after the passing of his wife of 73 years, former first lady Barbara Bush.

After serving as vice president from 1981 to 1989 he was elected president in 1988, defeating Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis, the first sitting vice president to be elevated to the presidency since Martin Van Buren in 1837.

President H.W. Bush led the country during the fall of the Berlin Wall and the unification of Germany; the overthrow, with the help of U.S. troops, of the Manuel Noriega regime in Panama; the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War; and the first Gulf War against Iraq in defense of Kuwait.

Former President George H. W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush attend the second day of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. on September 2, 2008. File Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI | License Photo

Former Presidents Ronald Reagan, (L) Gerald Ford (C) and George H.W. Bush attend a fundraising dinner in Houston on September 16, 1980. Reagan was the Republican presidential candidate at this time and Bush was his vice presidential running mate. File Photo by UPI | License Photo

President of West Germany Dr. Karl Carstens gives a speech to a joint session of Congress on October 5, 1983, in Washington with Vice President George H.W. Bush (L) and House Speaker Thomas O’Neill applauding. File Photo by Mal Langsdon/UPI | License Photo

President George H.W. Bush holds Jessica McClure, a Texas toddler whose rescue from an abandoned well in Texas captured national attention, on July 19, 1989, at the White House. File Photo courtesy the White House

President George H.W. Bush and British Prince Charles chat after the Prince of Wales landed by helicopter at Camp David to have dinner with the Bushes, February 17, 1989. File Photo by UPI | License Photo

Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev (L) and U.S. President George H.W. Bush (R) eat dinner during a summit December 2, 1989, in Malta. On December 3, the two leaders declared an end to the Cold War. File Photo by David Valdez/U.S. President's Office

Nelson Mandela (L), leader of the African National Congress, shares the podium with President George H.W. Bush (R) during their remarks on the South Lawn of the White House June 25, 1990. File Photo by UPI | License Photo

President George H.W. Bush shares a Texas Longhorn hand sign with young White House visitors in Washington, D.C., circa 1990. File photo by UPI

President George H.W. Bush takes a dip in the Pacific during a 1990 holiday to Honolulu. The UPI photographer was invited to swim along and brought his Nikon Action Touch waterproof camera. File Photo by Joe Marquette/UPI

President George H.W. Bush (R) gestures to the press as he comments on the Iraq-Kuwait crisis in the Rose Garden of the White House in August 1990. At left of the president are British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and NATO Secretary-General Manfred Woerner. File Photo by Martin Jeong/UPI | License Photo

British Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, are welcomed by President George H.W. Bush and first lady Barbara Bush on the South Lawn of the White House at the beginning of their state visit to the United States on May 14, 1991. File Photo by UPI | License Photo

President George H.W. Bush and first lady Mrs. Barbara Bush host a luncheon for Boris Yeltsin and his wife, while the presidential dog Millie takes a rest on the carpet. From left to right: Boris Yeltsin (seated at table, with interpreter behind him); first lady Barbara Bush; another guest; Naina Yelstin; and Bush. File Photo by David Valdex/The White House/Files | License Photo

Britain's Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson looks on while former U.S. President George Bush and wife Barbara chat prior to the start of AmiCares ceremonies honoring the president, in May 1999 aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid ship museum. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI | License Photo

Texas Gov. George W. Bush (2nd-L) talks with reporters about his campaign for president during a media gathering held at the Bush family compound on Walker's Point in Kennebunkport, Maine, in June 1999. Family members also spoke with the media including Bush's wife Laura Bush (L) former President George H.W. Bush (2nd-R) and former first lady Barbara Bush. File Photo by Lee K. Marriner/UPI | License Photo

Former President George H.W. Bush and first lady Barbara pose for pictures at the T.J. Martell Foundation 29th Annual Award Gala at the Hilton Hotel in New York in this May 27, 2004 file photo. File Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/UPI | License Photo

Former President George H.W. Bush and first lady Barbara Bush arrive for their son President George W. Bush's second inaugural ceremony on Capitol Hill on January 20, 2005, in Washington. File Photo by Doug Mills/UPI | License Photo

Former President George H.W. Bush (L) and former President Bill Clinton, honorary co-chairs of the tournament, make remarks prior to the start of play of the 2005 President's Cup at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va., on September 22, 2005. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI | License Photo

Former President George H.W. Bush gestures during his speech after receiving the 2006 Liberty Medal along with former President Bill Clinton on October 5, 2006, in Philadelphia. The two put politics aside to help raise more than $1 billion for disaster relief efforts. File Photo by John Anderson/UPI | License Photo

Former President George H. W. Bush (R) is congratulated by Tiger Woods after teeing off to start the inaugural AT&T National PGA event on July 4, 2007, at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. File Photo by Mark Goldman/UPI | License Photo

As Sen. John McCain and his wife, Cindy McCain, look on, former President George H.W. Bush officially endorses the Republican presidential candidate at a news conference February 18, 2008, in Houston. File Photo by Ian Halperin/UPI | License Photo

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush and his daughter, Doro Bush Koch, walk across the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) in the Atlantic Ocean on May 26, 2009. File Photo by Dominique J. Moore/U.S. Navy/UPI | License Photo

President Barack Obama awards the 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom to President George H.W. Bush during a ceremony at the White House in Washington on February 15, 2011. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Former President George H.W. Bush (R) watches as son, former President George W. Bush, throws out the first pitch prior to the Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants playing Game 4 of the World Series in Arlington, Texas, on October 31, 2010. File Photo by Ian Halperin/UPI | License Photo

Former President George H.W. Bush and wife, Barbara Bush, attend the coin toss before the New England Patriots play the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston on February 5, 2017. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Former President George H.W. Bush throws out the first ceremonial pitch before the 2017 MLB World Series Game 5 at Minute Maid Park in Houston on October 29, 2017. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo